More Pictures from Christmas . . .

After the Youth Christmas party! They had a good time with Ann Clayton! Obviously, she had a good time, too!
Ann Clayton with her new kitchen set from her Manina & Grumpy.

Daddy & Ann Clayton jammin' with the new music set we gave her.

Ann Clayton very interested in Koie's stocking. For a while all she wanted to do was play with Koie's tennis ball. Who knew we could have saved the money and bought her a tennis ball for Christmas!

Ann Clayton's first car from her Puff & Pappy!

Ann Clayton in the Christmas program at church. She's the little lamb on the far left.

Close-up of the little lamb:

Christmas Blessings!

Christmas was wonderful in our home! On the Tuesday before Christmas day, we went to the doctor for the “big ultrasound,” that is, we found out whether we are having a boy or girl! A friend gave us the idea to have the nurse write it inside a Christmas card to open on Christmas day. What a fun idea! We waited until 11:00 AM on Christmas morning when all the family was present and we opened it to find out that we are having another GIRL! We’re so excited. Sisters! Ann Clayton will have so much fun! We feel so blessed!

Despite the craziness of the season, we wanted to be sure Ann Clayton, with the little understanding that she has right now, understood what it was all about . . . Jesus! Although I’m certain she understood very little of what we were talking about, we used our nativity scene to explain to her about the birth of Christ, we celebrated Christmas day with a “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake, and we participated in the church kid’s Christmas program—I was a shepherd and Ann Clayton a precious, baby lamb. It was a wonderful Christmas!

And now it’s time to start getting the house back in order . . . my least favorite part. Two things I absolutely hate doing: packing up when departing from a vacation and putting away all the Christmas decorations. Oh well, it will come again and there’s plenty of reason to celebrate all year long anyway!

If I don’t make another entry before the new year, which, given my track record is not likely, I’ll see you next year! Happy New Year and may God bless you and yours the coming year!

1 Peter 1:3-5 A Reason for Celebrating
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

So Thankful!

This past week I’ve spent much time reflecting on all the things for which I am thankful. My list goes on and on, but I am incredibly thankful that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for me so that I may have eternal life in Heaven with Him. That alone calls for thanks all year long. Shane and I have been so blessed with each other, our precious Ann Clayton and son/daughter on the way, our families, our church, our friends. We are so thankful! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our camera was broken on Thanksgiving, but Ann Clayton made a mess similar to the one shown here. She loved the sweet potatoes!

Well, I just can’t believe the Christmas season is here. I love it! I normally wait until Thanksgiving to break out the Christmas music, but I’ve been dancing to Christmas music around the house for the past 2 weeks. In the past, I’ve always been studying for exams during this time and really not able to enjoy the season until mid-December. It’s so nice to take everything in at this early date! We got our tree yesterday and it smells so good! Any suggestions on how to keep a very-curious-and-into-everything Ann Clayton out of the Christmas tree are welcome! She's now WALKING, so I imagine she's going to have a grand time around the tree! Maybe we’ll just hang all the ornaments out of her reach and have a bare tree on the bottom?? She still may be enticed to pull on the tree. Oh dear.

I did something I’ve always said I would not do. I braved the crowds on “Black Friday” to hit up Walmart for a Fisher Price Rock and Play Piano which was advertised in their toy catalog for $20. I have my heart set on getting this for Ann Clayton, but I’ve since learned after 3 trips to different Walmarts and browsing their webpage several times, that it’s no longer in production. Tell me then, why do they advertise for it?? Big bummer. I’ve found one on ebay, but I continue to be outbid. I’m not giving up! The piano has 1 day and 1 hour left. I will succeed and on Christmas day Ann Clayton will be rocking and playing on her gently-used piano!

Let me leave you with some more reasons to be thankful this season and all year long:

I am thankful that I am A Child of God (Romans 8:16) “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.”

I am thankful that I am Forgiven (Colossians 1:13,14) “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”

I am thankful that I am Saved by Grace through Faith (Ephesians 2:8) “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”

Looking for a Christmas Present?

If you’re looking for that perfect gift this year and you think a magazine might be just the one, check out our youth fundraiser webpage at www.magfundraising.com/ORFCyouth. You’ll find over 650 magazines which can be bought at prices which are 85% off the newsstand price. Plus, our youth group makes a 40% profit on each sale! Check it out if you're interested!